Jesus Washes the Feet of His Followers

13 It was before the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. Jesus knew the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. He had loved His own who were in the world. He loved them to the end. ² He and His followers were having supper. Satan had put the thought into the heart of Judas Iscariot of handing Jesus over to the leaders of the country. ³ Jesus knew the Father had put everything into His hands. He knew He had come from God and was going back to God. ⁴ Jesus got up from the supper and took off His coat. He picked up a cloth and put it around Him. ⁵ Then He put water into a wash pan and began to wash the feet of His followers. He dried their feet with the cloth He had put around Himself.

Peter Speaks Out against Jesus Washing His Feet

⁶ Jesus came to Simon Peter. Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?” ⁷ Jesus answered him, “You do not understand now what I am doing but you will later.” ⁸ Peter said to Him, “I will never let You wash my feet.” Jesus said, “Unless I wash you, you will not be a part of Me.” ⁹ Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, do not wash only my feet, but wash my hands and my head also.” ¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Anyone who has washed his body needs only to wash his feet. Then he is clean all over. You are all clean except one.” ¹¹ Jesus knew who was going to hand Him over to the leaders. That is why He said, “You are all clean except one.”

Jesus Tells Why He Washed Their Feet

¹² Jesus washed their feet and put on His coat. Then He sat down again and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? ¹³ You call Me Teacher and Lord. You are right because that is what I am. ¹⁴ I am your Teacher and Lord. I have washed your feet. You should wash each other’s feet also. ¹⁵ I have done this to show you what should be done. You should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶ For sure, I tell you, a workman who is owned by someone is not greater than his owner. One who is sent is not greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.

¹⁸ “I am not speaking about all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. What is written in the Holy Writings must happen. It says, ‘The man who eats bread with Me has turned against Me.’ ^{(A) 19} I tell you this now before it happens. After it happens, you will believe that I am Who I say I am, the Christ. ²⁰ For sure, I tell you, he who receives the one I send out, receives Me. He who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”